A Virxe do Portovello (part. Rozalén)

Tanxugueiras, a Galician folk trio, collaborates with Rozalén in the song 'A Virxe do Portovello,' a poignant tribute to the sea and the lives intertwined with it. The song's repetitive and haunting lyrics, 'Eu canto para olvidare' (I sing to forget), set the tone for a narrative steeped in sorrow and longing. The act of singing becomes a cathartic release, a way to cope with the 'penas' (sorrows) that weigh heavily on the heart. This repetition underscores the depth of the emotional burden carried by those who live by and depend on the sea.

The Virgin of Portovello, a symbolic figure in the song, 'ten a cara para o mar' (has her face towards the sea), watching over the fishermen as they return from their perilous journeys. This imagery evokes a sense of protection and hope, yet it is tinged with sadness as the Virgin 'non deixa mais de chorar' (does not stop crying) for those who lose their lives at sea. The Virgin's tears reflect the collective grief of a community that is intimately connected to the ocean's capricious nature.

The recurring motif of 'polo mar abaixo vai o meu amor' (down the sea goes my love) highlights the personal losses endured by the singer. The sea, a vast and unpredictable force, takes away loved ones, symbolized by the 'barquiña' (little boat) that drifts close to the train tracks. This juxtaposition of the sea and the train tracks suggests a journey, perhaps one of no return, emphasizing the finality and inevitability of loss. The song's melancholic tone, combined with its cultural and emotional depth, paints a vivid picture of life in a coastal community, where the sea is both a giver and taker of life.